Hall, festival ‘should unite’

Press, 23 February 1977, Page 4

Hall, festival ‘should unite’

' The most profitable devel opment in entertainment it |Christchurch would be t hi amalgamation of Town Hal and arts festival interests and an extension of Towt Hall entrepreneurial activity according to two Australia! I entrepreneurs for the arts Messrs K. Earle, and T | Frew in. At present the Christ church Arts Festival, which (puts on the biennial arts fes tivals in Christchurch, and the Town Hall board of management work separately. Mr Frewin said that official co-operation would considerably cut costs: the arts festival had developed a verv thorough network of overseas contacts, and the Town Hall had the facilities and professional staff. Unless the Town Hall began soliciting talent it would become little more than a landlord of an excellent facility to be hired out when touring groups came cheque in hand. Entrepreneurial work by the Town Hall had been very piecemeal, and unless it was extended, the venue would not survive. The idea had precedent in Adelaide, where the two men are based: Mr Earle as gene-

l-iral manager of the S2OM n Adelaide Festival Centre e (which could be compared ll|to the Christchurch Town ;, Hall) and also of the Ade n la ide Festival of Arts (com (parable to the Christchurch i Arts Festival), and Mr I re ..win as programme and pub J licit v manager for both bodies. The union had wot ken 11 superbly. Christchurch, a« - the sister city to Adelaide 11 could not lose if it imitatec I'the idea. The two men were ir | Christchurch to coordinate plans for the -, Christchurch and Adelaide ..Arts Festivals next year. The Adelaide Festival ot Art c Board already had some <>| I the world's best entertain ment booked for the three week festival, and. if the costs were shared, the same performers could come t< j'.he Christchurch festival. This would cut costs be half, and if other cities ir Australia and New Zealanc could be induced to hire the performers too costs wouli Ibe even further reduced At the same time the range ant .quality of entertainment (would be improved and both 'Christchurch and Adelaide Icould stage better festivals